Business Divisions

The Group’s Corporate Banking division is responsible for the Issuer’s more capital-intensive activities in risk asset generation and includes Corporate Loans, Trade Finance, Commercial Property Finance and Specialised Finance. The division principally handles loans and other credit facilities, deposit and current accounts for corporate and institutional customers.

The Group’s Treasury and Investments division is responsible for the Issuer’s more capital-intensive activities in risk asset generation and funding through Treasury and Investment related activities. It also provides money market, trading and treasury services, and is responsible for the management of the Group’s funding.

The Retail Banking division seeks to leverage its business model across the markets with the aim of establishing a standard range of products with centralisation of back office functions to enhance sales and service and deliver balance sheet growth and profitability across the regional network.

Islamic Finance

The Group provides Shari’a-compliant banking products and services through its dedicated Islamic banking subsidiary, Ahli United Bank K.S.C.P., through Ahli United Bank (UK) PLC and through the Issuer itself in Bahrain across its core business divisions. In April 2010, the Bank of Kuwait and the Middle East was converted into a fully Shari’a-compliant Islamic banking institution and was re-branded as Ahli United Bank K.S.C. In the first quarter of 2013, the Group also launched Islamic banking services through its associate in Oman, Ahli Bank S.A.O.G., by establishing seven Islamic banking branches, adding to the five Islamic banking branches it has established in Bahrain.

The Group has its own Shari’a Board comprising prominent Islamic scholars, and has installed an integrated IT system to process Islamic banking products. Islamic banking services were formally established under the Group brand name, Al-Hilal, and a range of Shari’a-compliant products are now available for the Group’s corporate, commercial and retail customers. The Group also offers ancillary Shari’a-compliant insurance products through Al Hilal Life.